I found it pretty scary. One of those I should watch again, but reluctant to enter that headspace or whatever.
Discussion
It is quite scary. Ari Aster is able to blend horror and family themes. Those 2 elements together make for the scariest movies
I heard (on this lecture series I can't shut up about), that true horror, is becoming unanchored from sense making (or some such thing, I'm butchering wording).
Example given was The Shining (paraphrasing as a quote):
"I was watching, thinking it was metaphor for alcoholism, as I know alcoholism is a big thing for Stephen king. Yada yada, some brief examples that support the interpretation. Not that scary. But, There's a scene where wife tricks Jack and locks him in utility closet. He protests, and at some point hears voices, and talks to them, and the door clicks/unlocks. Right then, I felt the horror take hold"
The Shining’s most frightening moments had no soundtrack, where the hotel itself becomes a character in itself.
Shining is in my favourites as well. The pictures of the past in the hotel. History repeating itself. And this character. One of my favourite characters. So evil. Just the look on his face
And the terrified look on Scatman Cruthers’ face as he silently realizes what is happening at the hotel.
I saw that movie very young and it scared me more than anything has.
There's analyses of some deep imagery, Native American stuff largely, that I've watched/read pieces of. Hotel built on Indian burial ground iirc. Forget most of what I read, but worth a look if you're interested